On July 8, Forward Defense Senior Advisor Stephen Rodriguez was interviewed for an article in Government Matters titled “Sole-sourcing spare parts hinders military readiness, says national security expert.” In the piece, Rodriguez discusses the military’s space parts supply chain, its “crisis in readiness” due to single-supplier delivery of goods, and the need to revitalize discussion around defense innovation.
This is really an issue of competition, whether it’s with China, or Russia, or pick your existential boogeyman. Our simple argument is, look: we can talk about strategy, we can talk about numbers of ship or plane buys, but you don’t get to compete with anyone if you don’t have spare parts.
Forward Defense leads the Atlantic Council’s US and global defense programming, developing actionable recommendations for the United States and its allies and partners to compete, innovate, and navigate the rapidly evolving character of warfare. Through its work on US defense policy and force design, the military applications of advanced technology, space security, strategic deterrence, and defense industrial revitalization, it informs the strategies, policies, and capabilities that the United States will need to deter, and, if necessary, prevail in major-power conflict.
